Rides towered over game booths. Balloons marked concession stands. Bright lights blinked to scratchy music, piped in from speakers on the carousel. People crowded every bit of open space, moving like worker ants from one end of the field to the other. Rudy climbed out of the back seat of Jon’s car. Ellis took Rudy by his arm and made his brother face him. Rudy craned his head back. Ellis held his face. Now they were eye to eye. “What are the rules?” A burst of balloons was followed by cheering. “Rudy. Pay attention. What are the rules?” Rudy squished his face up. “Don’t talk to anyone. Don’t wander off. Don’t touch.” Ellis patted him on the cheek. “Good job.” “Can I go in the bouncy house?” “You know you can’t.” “Why not?” “You’re too big.” “I’m the same size as you.”
